Jig and method for making reinforcement cage

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a jig for manufacturing a reinforcement cage, which comprises a base member, a plurality of rollers disposed on the base member and spaced at intervals, a trolley which is movable on the base member; a driving device for driving the trolley; and a member for positioning the main reinforcement disposed at the first end of the base member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant disclosure relates to a jig and a method for manufacturing areinforcement cage

BACKGROUND

A reinforcement cage is typically used in a structure of reinforcedconcrete for resisting a tension force and/or for bearing a shear forceexternally applied to the structure. A conventional process ofassembling a reinforcement cage requires temporarily holding the mainbars in place at the scene before binding stirrups to the main bars toform the reinforcement cage. Equipment is required to calibrate levelsof the bars and balance the bars to form the reinforcement cage. Suchprocess is complicated and requires significant time, manpower andmaterial resources. Thus, there is a need in the art to devise a mannerof forming a reinforcement cage requiring less time, manpower andmaterial resources.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The instant disclosure relates to a jig for manufacturing areinforcement cage, which will shorten the time needed for making areinforcement cage.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure, a jigfor manufacturing a reinforcement cage comprises: a base member; aplurality of rollers disposed on the base member and spaced atintervals; a trolley movable on the base member by the rollers; adriving device for driving the trolley; and a main bar positioningmember disposed at a first end of the base member.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure, amethod for making a reinforcement cage comprises: providing a jig formanufacturing a reinforcement cage as described in the immediatelypreceding embodiment; arranging a trolley at a second end of the basemember, which is opposite to the first end of the base member; providingat least one spiral stirrup on the trolley; providing at least one mainbar, wherein one end of the at least one main bar is fixed in the slotsof the main bar positioning member such that the at least one main barextends along the lengthwise direction of the base member; and actuatingthe driving device to drive the trolley to move toward the first end ofthe base member along the lengthwise direction of the base member suchthat the at least one main bar relatively passes through a central spaceof the at least one spiral stirrup to thereby install the at least onemain bar into the at least one spiral stirrup disposed on the trolley.

In order to further understand the instant disclosure, the followingembodiments are provided along with illustrations to facilitateappreciation of the instant disclosure; however, the appended drawingsare merely provided for reference and illustration, without anyintention to limit the scope of the instant disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions areexemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the instantdisclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the instantdisclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions andappended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jig for manufacturing a reinforcementcage in accordance with an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of portion “A” shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion “B” shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion “C” shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is an exploded view showing a jig for assembling a reinforcedcage in accordance with an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a schematic view showing the side edges of the spiralstirrups are fixed to the stirrup positioning members in accordance withan embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 5C is a schematic view showing the main bars are fixed to the mainbar positioning member in accordance with an embodiment of the instantdisclosure;

FIG. 5D is a schematic view showing the jig in accordance with anembodiment of the instant disclosure, in which the stirrups are to beinstalled onto the main bars;

FIG. 5E is a regional view showing the stirrups are to be installed ontothe main bars in accordance with an embodiment of the instantdisclosure;

FIG. 5F is another regional view showing the stirrups are in the processof being installed onto the main bars in accordance with an embodimentof the instant disclosure;

FIG. 5G is a schematic view showing the stirrups are installed onto themain bars in accordance with an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 5H is a regional view showing the stirrups are installed onto themain bars in accordance with an embodiment of the instant disclosure;and

FIG. 5I shows a reinforcement cage manufactured in accordance with anembodiment of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are now described withreferences to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used torefer to like elements throughout. In the following description, forpurposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, the presentdisclosure may be practiced without these specific details, and is notlimited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 shows a jig 1 for manufacturing a reinforcement cage inaccordance with an embodiment of the instant disclosure. The jig 1 hasan elongated base member 11 and a plurality of legs 119 supporting thebase member 11 that keep the base member at a distance from the ground.A plurality of rollers 111 are disposed on the base member 11 and spacedat intervals along a lengthwise direction of the base member 11.Specifically, the base member 11 is frame-shaped and has two long sides113 and two short sides 114, wherein the rollers are pivotally arrangedbetween two long sides 113. A trolley 13 used for carrying stirrups isslidably disposed on the rollers 111. A driving device 14 is provided todrive the trolley 13 to move along the lengthwise direction of the basemember 11. Further, a main bar positioning member 115, which is used forfixing ends of the main bars, is disposed at the first end 115 of thebase member 11, and an auxiliary frame 17 is disposed at a long side 113of the base member 11 and is adjacent to the first end 115 of the basemember 11, wherein a plurality of removable supporting rods 171 aredisposed above the base member 11 and projects from a side of theauxiliary frame 17 in the manner of a cantilever.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of portion “A” shown in FIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2, the trolley 13 has a bottom plate 139. A plurality of seats 131are arranged on the bottom plate 139 of the trolley 13 and along alengthwise direction of the trolley 13. These seats 131 are spaced atintervals and substantially parallel to each other in a directiontransverse to the lengthwise direction of the trolley 13. Each seat 131has a positioning groove 1311 therein. Moreover, a plurality of stirrupsupports 133 are substantially disposed at one side of the seats 131,which are arranged in a row, and extend along a lengthwise direction ofthe trolley 13. Each of the stirrup supports 133 comprises a pluralityof stirrup positioning members 135. The stirrup positioning members 135are arranged so that they correspond to the seats 131 respectively. Indetail, one stirrup positioning members 135 is configured to besubstantially aligned with one seat 131. As shown in FIG. 5F, each ofthe stirrup positioning members 135 comprises a slot therein, whereinthe slot has a Y-shaped entrance 1351 at its top end. Further, the sideedges of the stirrup 21 could be installed into the slots of the stirruppositioning members 135 and fixed to the stirrup positioning members 135through the Y-shaped entrances 1351.

In addition, the trolley 13 further comprises an auxiliary roller 137disposed at one end of the trolley 13, which faces toward the first end115 of the base member 11.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion “B” shown in FIG. 1. In additionto the rollers 111, the base member 11 further comprises a plurality ofmain bar supports 19 spaced at intervals along a lengthwise direction ofthe base member 11. In particular, each main bar support 19 is arrangedbetween two adjacent rollers 111. That is, the main bar supports 19 andthe rollers 111 are arranged alternatively. As shown in FIG. 3, eachmain bar support 19 is rotatably mounted at the base member 11 through apivoting member 190, and the pivoting member 190 comprises a spiralspring (not shown) which retains the main bar support 19 so that the topof the main bar support 19 extends beyond the top of the bottom plate139 of the trolley 13 when the main bar support 19 is in its defaultposition. On the other hand, when an external force is applied to themain bar support 19, the main bar support 19 will be rotated along thedirection of the external force and against the torsion provided by thespiral spring of the pivoting member 190. When the external force isremoved from the main bar support 19, the main bar support 190 willreturn to its default position through the restoration force provided bythe spiral spring.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion “C” shown in FIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 4, the main bar positioning member 15 comprises multiple slots 151.In this embodiment, the main bar positioning member 15 comprises twoslots which are spaced apart from each other by a distance and aregenerally parallel to each other.

FIGS. 5A-5I are schematic views showing the jig 1 for manufacturing areinforcement cage in accordance with an embodiment of the instantdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 5A, several spiral stirrups 21 are arrangedon the trolley 13 and two elongated main bars 23 are fixed to the basemember 11 of the jig 1 through the main bar positioning member 15. Thetrolley 13 is initially positioned at the second end of the base member11, which is opposite to the first end 115 of the base member 11.Referring to FIG. 5B, three spiral stirrups 21 are arranged on thetrolley 13. Each bottom edge of each spiral stirrup 21 is fixedlyreceived in the groove 1311 of the seat 131, and each side edge of eachspiral stirrup 21 is fixedly received in the stirrup positioning members135 of the stirrup support 133. Thus, the spiral stirrups 21 are stablydisposed on the trolley 13. Moreover, referring to FIG. 5C, twoelongated main bars 23 are fixed to the jig through the main barpositioning member 115 wherein each of the main bars 23 is loop-shaped.One end of each elongated main bar 23 is received in the slot 151 of themain bar positioning member 15, and the supporting rods 171 of theauxiliary frame 17 extend through the elongated main bars 23 from theirsides and support the underside of the top edges 232 of the elongatedmain bars 23.

After the elongated main bars 23 are fixed to the base member 11 of thejig 1 and the spiral stirrups 21 are fixed to the trolley 13, thedriving device 14 could be actuated to move the trolley 13 along thelengthwise direction of the base member 11. Referring to FIG. 5D, thetrolley 13 is driven by the driving device 14 and moves toward the firstend 115 of the base member 11 and along the lengthwise direction of thebase member 11. When the trolley 13 moves, the elongated main bars 23fixed to the base member 11 will be installed into the spiral stirrups21 fixed to the trolley 13. That is, the elongated main bars 23 willrelatively pass through a central space 211 of the spiral stirrups 21.In addition, before driving the trolley 13 to move forward or backwardon base member 11, the supporting rods 171 should be removed from theauxiliary frame 17, and the elongated main bars 23 fixed to the basemember 11 could be smoothly installed into the spiral stirrups 21 fixedto the trolley 13.

FIGS. 5E and 5F show that the trolley 13 moves forward and the elongatedmain bars 23 are in the process of being installed into the spiralstirrups 21. FIG. 5E shows that the trolley 13 moves toward an end ofthe elongated main bars 23 and in the meantime the elongated main bars23 have not yet been installed into the spiral stirrups 21. As shown inFIG. 5E, the elongated main bars 23 are fixed to the jig 1, the bottomedges 231 of the elongated main bars 23 are supported by the main barsupports 19 and the trolley 13 is driven to move on the rollers 111 andtoward an end of the elongated main bars 23. Before the base member 11contacts the main bar supports 19, there is no force applied to the mainbar supports 19, and the tops of the main bar supports 19 extend beyondthe tops of the base plates 139 of the trolley 13. FIG. 5F shows thatthe trolley 13 contacts the main bar supports 19 and the elongated mainbars 23 are in the process of being installed into the spiral stirrups21. As shown in FIG. 5F, the front of the trolley 13 pushes the main barsupports 19, and the main bar supports 19 rotate counterclockwise andagainst the torsion provided by the torsion spring (not shown) in thepivoting member 190. Meanwhile, other main bar supports 19 which are notpushed by the trolley 13 are maintained to support the elongated mainbars 23 such that the bottom edges 231 of the elongated main bars 23 aredisposed above the bottom plate 139 of the trolley 13. Accordingly, thebottom plate 139 of the trolley 13 could pass underneath the bottomedges 231 of the elongated main bars 23 and the elongated main bars 23will relatively pass through a central space 211 of the spiral stirrups21. Thereby, the elongated main bars 23 can be installed into the spiralstirrups 21. Further, the auxiliary roller 137 disposed on the front ofthe trolley 13 helps the elongated main bars 23 to smoothly pass throughthe central space 211 of the spiral stirrups 21 during the movement ofthe trolley 13.

FIG. 5G shows that one end of the trolley 13 has moved to the first end115 of the base member 11 and the elongated main bars 23 have beeninstalled into the spiral stirrups 21 on the trolley 13.

FIG. 5H shows that a plurality of tie bars 25 are installed into thecentral space 211 of the spiral stirrups 21 along the length of the basemember 11. Further, the tie bars 25, the spiral stirrups 21 and theelongated main bars 23 are bound together.

The tie bars 25, the spiral stirrups 21 and the elongated main bars 23which are bound together are removed from the jig 1 so as to form areinforcement cage 100.

The above embodiments merely describe the principle and effects of thepresent disclosure, instead of being used to limit the presentdisclosure. Therefore, persons skilled in the art can make modificationsto and variations of the above embodiments without departing from thespirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosureshould be defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A jig system for manufacturing a reinforcementcage, comprising: a base member; a plurality of rollers disposed on thebase member and spaced at intervals along a lengthwise direction of thebase member; a trolley for loading stirrups of the reinforcement cage,the trolley being slidably disposed on the rollers; a driver for drivingthe trolley so that the trolley is moveable on and along the lengthwisedirection of the base member; and a main bar positioning member disposedat a first end of the base member, wherein the main bar positioningmember is configured to hold an end of a main bar of the reinforcementcage, wherein the lengthwise direction of the main bar of thereinforcement cage is substantially parallel to the lengthwise directionof the base member, and wherein the driver is configured to move thetrolley so that the stirrups of the reinforcement cage loaded on thetrolley is moveable along the lengthwise direction of the main bar ofthe reinforcement cage.
 2. The jig system of claim 1, wherein thetrolley comprises a plurality of seats for positioning stirrups, andwherein the seats are disposed on the trolley and spaced at intervalsalong a lengthwise direction of the trolley, and wherein each of theseats comprises a positioning groove therein.
 3. The jig system of claim1, wherein the trolley comprises a stirrup support which is disposed onthe trolley and extends substantially along the lengthwise direction ofthe base member.
 4. The jig system of claim 3, wherein the stirrupsupport comprises a plurality of stirrup positioning members thereon,wherein the stirrup positioning members are arranged to correspond tothe seats, wherein each of the stirrup positioning members comprises aslot therein, and wherein the slot has a Y-shaped entrance at its topend.
 5. The jig system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliaryframe, wherein the auxiliary frame is disposed on the base member andextends substantially along the lengthwise direction of the base member,and wherein the auxiliary frame comprises at least one removablesupporting rod which is disposed above the base member and projects fromthe auxiliary frame in the manner of a cantilever.
 6. The jig system ofclaim 1, wherein the trolley comprises an auxiliary roller disposed atone end of the trolley which is closer to the first end of the basemember.
 7. The jig system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofmain bar supports, wherein each of the main bar supports is rotatablymounted on the base member through a pivoting member, and wherein themain bar supports and the rollers are alternatively arranged along thelengthwise direction of the base member.
 8. The jig system of claim 7,wherein the pivoting member comprises a spring, and wherein the springretains the pivoting member so that the top of the main bar supportsextends beyond the height of a bottom plate of the trolley.
 9. The jigsystem of claim 1, wherein the base member is frame-shaped and has twolong sides and two short sides, wherein the rollers are pivotallyarranged between the two long sides.
 10. The jig system of claim 2,wherein the seats are parallel to each other in a direction transverseto the lengthwise direction of the trolley.
 11. The jig system of claim1, wherein the base member has a second end opposite to the first end,and wherein the main bar of the reinforcement cage is free from beingsurrounded by the stirrups of the reinforcement cage loaded on thetrolley when a front end of the trolley is adjacent to the second end ofthe base member, and wherein the main bar of the reinforcement cage issurrounded by the stirrups of the reinforcement cage loaded on thetrolley when the front end of the trolley is adjacent to the first endof the base member.